The Many Benefits of Inversion Tables

An inversion table provides fantastic back pain relief to thousands of people; But few realize that using an inversion table benefits much more than just your back. As you will see below, inversion benefits the entire body.

What causes back pain and how does an inversion table work?

First, know that back pain can be caused by several factors: poor posture; a damaged back due to overuse of certain sports, an accident that damaged the back, certain congenital spinal defects, and no doubt, plain old gravity is taking its toll on the spine.

The concept behind inversion tables is simple and has been around since the days of Hippocrates, the acclaimed Father of Medicine. In short, the vertebrae of the spine are separated by a comfortable material called a “disc”. This disc allows smooth movement of the spine and keeps the vertebrae apart. Due to any of the factors that cause back pain, as mentioned above, the vertebrae can get compressed on the discs and thus the discs lose their integrity. Without proper function of the discs, the vertebrae can lock instead of having their full range of motion. This causes the supporting muscles to contract, spasm and/or become inflamed. The nerves that pass through the vertebrae may be affected, causing severe pain or numbness.

The common factor in all of this is pain, and often chronic pain that goes unrelieved.

Depending on the severity, there are very few alternatives to relieve back pain. If it’s minor, sometimes pain pills or certain exercises will help; but for people with severe chronic pain, there is very little outside of surgery or simply living with it. An inversion table is a great option that has been known to produce fantastic results for the largest number of people who use it.

Some benefits of the inversion table:

• The body is allowed to stretch and realign itself.
• By reversing, the vertebrae realign and the spinal muscles and ligaments relax, relieving pain. In general, back pain is relieved, since the constant pressure on the vertebrae is reduced. This releases the intervertebral discs, the affected nerves and the facet joints.
• The intervertebral discs, that is, the discs between the vertebrae, are decompressed. This allows them to regain their elasticity and strength.
• The inflamed muscles around the spine begin to heal and soften. When reversed, the muscles of the body relax, which promotes the permeation of tissues and organs with oxygenated blood. This is of vital importance since not only the internal organs are nourished, but also the periphery of the body such as the skin, hair and nails.
• Muscle inflammation is relieved.
• The ligaments are strengthened.
• Helps in venous circulation which helps relieve varicose veins. In general, the body is oxygenated, which improves cell function.
• Stopping the pull of constant gravity on internal organs allows those organs to relax and even decongest.
• Good posture is restored. By doing basic exercises while inverted, the muscles are strengthened, especially the muscles that support the spine, while at the same time other muscles are properly relaxed. A realignment and stability is restored to the body which is evident in better posture.
• Oxygenated blood flows to the brain, bringing calm and greater clarity.
• Cervical (neck) spine decompression relieves headaches and head tension caused by tension in the neck and shoulder muscles.
• Blood and lymph nodes receive accelerated cleansing due to better circulation. Lymphatic fluid often stagnates in people because it does not have its own circulatory source. Inversion creates a reverse gravity that induces drainage of lymphatic fluid, which decreases stagnation. Lymph drainage is vital for the removal of waste products and for the transport of white blood cells, which are the main component of the immune system.

As you can see, the benefit of the inversion table is not only for the spine, but it helps the whole body.